In an extraordinary display of regional spirit and determination, Bairnsdale Horse Centre’s Carlee Knight has officially reached a historic $1 million fundraising milestone for Dolly’s Dream, coinciding with the eighth annual Do It For Dolly Day on Friday, May 8.
The owner of the Bairnsdale Horse Centre, Ms Knight has spent nearly a decade championing the anti-bullying message of Amy “Dolly” Everett.
What began as a local effort to raise awareness through blue shirts has transformed into a national success story, with the Bairnsdale Horse Centre now serving as the official merchandise supplier for the foundation.
For Ms Knight, the connection to Dolly was immediate.
As a young girl who grew up on a farm with a deep love for horses, she saw herself in the free-spirited teenager from the Northern Territory.
“It was just something in her that I see in myself,” Ms Knight said.
When Dolly tragically took her own life in 2018 following relentless bullying, Ms Knight felt compelled to act.
“Every time I look at the picture of her on our trailers, I just think ‘If only she knew’,” she said.
The $1 million has been raised through a tireless combination of dedicated community auctions, local events, and the manufacturing and sale of the iconic blue “Speak even if your voice shakes” merchandise.
The scale of the contribution is immense, with the centre now donating around $200,000 a year.
In April of this year alone, the centre raised a staggering $72,000.
“I’m incredibly proud to have raised this much money,” Ms Knight said. “What we’re doing is having a big impact.”
These funds directly support life-changing initiatives, most notably the 13 DOLLY bullying support line (13 36 55), a 24-hour service that provides a shield of armour for children and families facing bullying.
While the milestone is a personal achievement for Ms Knight, she was quick to credit the surrounding region.
“Bairnsdale is a very generous community,” she said. “For example, Clifton Creek Primary School, a tiny little school, managed to raise $1498. That’s insane for such a small school.”
The local milestone comes as the national Do It For Dolly Day campaign targets its own record of $2 million in a single year.
In Bairnsdale, the result has proven that regional communities can lead the way in solving national challenges.
“You don’t have to do big things to do good things,” Ms Knight said.
Even after hitting the million-dollar mark, her drive remains unchanged.
“It’s like all this hype, ‘Oh my god we’ve done a million dollars,’ and that’s amazing, but then it’s like, ‘Okay, that was yesterday, now let’s get on with it’.”
As Bairnsdale continues to go blue, the $1 million raised by Ms Knight and her team stands as a lasting testament to Dolly’s legacy and a powerful reminder that one person’s dedication can truly change a nation.
